Best Part-Time Master's in Taxation Programs in 2027

• Highest Score74.9 out of 100

  University of Florida

  Taxation

  Florida · LL.M.

  University of Florida's LL.M. Review
• Lowest Price$601 per credit

  University of Akron

  Taxation, MTax

  Ohio · M.Tax

  University of Akron's M.Tax Review
• Highest Graduate Earnings$170,796 median earnings

  Villanova University

  Master of Laws in Taxation

  Pennsylvania · LL.M.

  Villanova University's LL.M. Review
• Strongest CredentialsAACSB stated by the school; prepares for CPA

  Portland State University

  Master of Taxation

  Oregon · M.Tax.

  Portland State University's M.Tax. Review

Programs where the school states a part-time option, in program text or as a stated audience.

• A part-time pace stated on a school page
• Typical completion times shown when the school publishes them
• Ranked on the shared methodology

Scores are the weighted sum of eight factors (Tax Specialization 15%, Tax Subject Coverage 15%, Hands-On Tax Practice 10%, Cost 20%, Graduate Earnings 10%, Credential Alignment 10%, Track Record 10%, Program Reputation 10%), version 2.0. The methodology page shows the rubric for each factor.

Match Your Weekly Hours to a Part-Time Pace

Part-time programs set your pace in different ways, so look at the unit of study. Goldey-Beacom's MBA with a major in taxation has you take one course per eight-week session, in the evening or on designated Saturdays, over two years. NYU's Master of Studies in Law in Taxation lets you enroll per semester for up to six credits and finish in as little as two years.

Fordham says part-time students can take classes one day per week. The University of San Francisco's LL.M. in Taxation says most students complete two courses per semester and graduate in two years.

Pick a rhythm you can repeat for two years, whether that's one course at a time, a day a week or two courses a semester. A pace you can keep matters more than a short timeline.

Add up the weekly hours you can protect for class, reading and assignments, then match that number to the pace.

Check the Longest Time a Part-Time Master's in Taxation Allows

Schools state part-time timelines in different ways: a typical finish, a maximum or both. Denver's Master of Taxation says part-time students finish in 18 to 24 months. Georgetown's Master of Studies in Law lists three years part time. Bentley says part-time students generally take 2-5 years.

Others give you more room. Northwestern's LL.M. in Taxation allows up to five years part time, and so do NYU's Master of Studies in Law in Taxation and the University of Florida's LL.M. Wayne State sets a maximum of six years, and so does the University of Washington's Tax Law LL.M.

A typical finish tells you the pace most students keep, and a maximum tells you how much slack you have if life interrupts. Ask what happens to the clock if you take a term off, and whether you can pause when work or family gets busy. Get the answer in writing before you enroll.

Ask Your Employer About Tuition Help

Employer help can shrink the bill, and a part-time schedule lets you keep the job that pays for it. The IRS says that if you receive educational assistance benefits from your employer under an educational assistance program, you can exclude up to $5,250 of those benefits each year.

It adds that you'll generally pay tax on any amount over $5,250. Because the limit applies yearly, a slower pace spreads your tuition across more years of benefits.

Some firms partner with schools directly. San Francisco's LL.M. notes that Andersen employees may enroll at the firm's expense through a long-standing partnership. Rutgers reports that 95% of the students in its Master of Accountancy in Taxation are employed while they study.

Ask your human resources office whether a plan covers graduate tax study, how it pays and what you'd owe if you leave the company. Get the answers in writing before your first bill arrives.

Pair Part-Time Study With the CPA or Enrolled Agent Route

A slower pace gives you years of tax work alongside your classes. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) lists a model graduate degree pathway to the CPA: a graduate degree in accounting, one year of professional experience and passing the exam. Each jurisdiction adopts that model on its own timeline, so ask each program how its credits count in your state.

Rutgers' Master of Accountancy in Taxation says it satisfies the 150-hour requirement for the CPA exam. It's a 30-credit, online-hybrid, part-time program, and you can attend in person on the Newark campus or off-site through video conferencing.

If the enrolled agent credential interests you, the IRS says you must achieve passing scores on all three parts of the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE) within three years. Our guide to the enrolled agent exam walks through the parts. Pick your route before you pick the program, so you'll match the credits to the exam you plan to take.